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El fin de la colonia: Paraguay 1810-1811. By Jerry W. Cooney. Asuncion: Intercontinental Editora, 2010. Pp. 155. Notes. Bibliography. Index.
The study of the independence period in Paraguay has often been overshadowed by other monumental events of the nation's turbulent nineteenth century, including the dictatorship of José Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia (1813-1840) and the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870). However, this oversight is corrected by Ierry W. Cooney, who has taken the opportunity to explain the events of 200 years ago with clarity and precision. While arguing that the social fabric of Paraguay changed little during the eighteen months of struggle, Cooney points out that the political position of the provincial gachupines (peninsular Spaniards) on the one hand and the designs of porteños (the peoples of Buenos Aires) on the region were displaced by a new Paraguayan-born governing elite led by Fulgencio Yegros and Pedro Juan Caballero.
Placing the Paraguayan independence movement in the larger context of the tumultuous events of Rio de la Plata, Cooney adroitly narrates...